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Nanaimo’s Pride celebrations are in full swing this week starting with the Pride flag raising and street fair at City Hall this evening. There will be events all week, including the annual Pride Dance with Queer as Funk on Saturday night, and the Pride Parade and Festival on Sunday afternoon. 

Check out all the cool Pride events that I could find listed below and be sure to check out our 2025 Pride Guide for more events in other communities and resources for the 2SLGBTQQIA+ community and allies. 

Thanks for reading,

Mick Sweetman

🖊️ I support The Discourse because ⌨️

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“I love your reporting and recommend it but honestly you are the best aggregator of interesting/progressive events on the central island that I've found. Getting a list of what's going on via email has become a crucial ritual for me. Especially during the summer as a parent, I find a lot of good events. I moved to town three years ago and I didn't realize how many multi-cultural events were going on until I received your newsletter. Worth $10 just for that. Keep fighting the good fight.”

—  El Corbo, supporter of The Discourse Nanaimo.

Got the inside scoop of an event you think should be shared? 

Let us know by sending Mick an email.

🏳️‍🌈 Pride 🏳️‍🌈

2025 Pride guide for Cowichan, Nanaimo and the Comox Valley

Check out local Pride guide for events, plus resources and organizations for 2SLGBTQQIA+ and allies in Cowichan, Nanaimo and the Comox Valley.

Tuesday, June 3, 5 p.m.: Pride flag raising and street fair at Nanaimo CIty Hall.

Wednesday, June 4, 7 p.m.: Rainbow rave silent disco at Neck Point Park’s Last Beach. Tickets cost $20.

Wednesday, June 4, 7 p.m.: Drag Bingo with Connie Smudge at The Nanaimo Bar. Buy-in costs $20. 

Thursday, June 5, 5:30 p.m.: Laugh Out Loud comedy show featuring a stacked lineup of 2SLGBTQQIA+ comedians, including Tin Lorica, Sasha Mark, Patti Savard, Brett McCrindle, Chris Basso and Steev Letts, with a headline performance by the incomparable Katie-Ellen Humphries at the Vancouver Island Conference Centre’s Shaw Auditorium. Tickets cost $25. 

Thursday, June 5, 6 p.m.: Explore birding and biodiversity on a guided walk for the 2SLGBTQQIA+ community and allies with the Stroll with a Pro: Pride Edition at Buttertubs Marsh. Bring binoculars if you have them and dress for the weather. Free registration is currently waitlisted.  

Friday, June 6, 6:30 p.m.: A Youth Pride Prom open to youth aged 12-18 will be held at Beban Park Social Centre. Tickets are free but attendees must register with BGCCVI.

Friday, June 6, 7 p.m.: Club Soda Sober Pride Dance for anyone who wants to dance, connect, and celebrate in a space that’s substance-free, low-pressure and full of queer joy at Pleasant Valley Social Centre. Tickets cost $20. 

Friday, June 6, 10 p.m.: WICKED Drag Show with local performers at The Queen’s. Tickets cost $30. 

Saturday, June 7, 3 p.m. to 5 p.m.: Looking for pronoun pins? Want to rep your Pride flags or make a sign? The Nanaimo Art Gallery will have its button maker set up and other Pride-themed art activities for a Queer/Trans Art Drop-In. Admission by donation.  

Saturday, June 7, 7:30 p.m.: Annual Pride Dance featuring Queer as Funk. Tickets cost $35 in advance or $40 at the door. 

Sunday, June 8, 10 a.m. A Pride Parade Drag Brunch at The Nanaimo Bar includes a prime location on the parade route, catered brunch and live hilarious parade commentary. Tickets cost $30. 

Sunday, June 8, 11 a.m.: The Nanaimo Pride Parade through downtown will take place starting at the corner of Fitzwilliam and Selby Streets and ending in Maffeo Sutton Park. 

Sunday, June 8, 11 a.m to 5 p.m..: Join CineCentral for a vibrant DocJam during Nanaimo's Pride Parade. Filmmakers, creatives and community members come together and help document Pride from the inside out.

Sunday, June 8, noon: After the parade, the party continues at Maffeo Sutton Park with an afternoon of celebration, connection and community at the Nanaimo Pride Festival.

🎵 Celebrate Local Journalism  🎤

Join The Discourse’s local reporters and editors at Red Arrow Brewing in Duncan to celebrate eight years of community journalism on Vancouver Island.

Raise a glass and to solutions focused community news and tell us what stories you want to see told.

Food and drinks will be available for purchase. All new monthly supporters of The Discourse’s online news will get a beer or non-alcoholic beverage on us! Red Arrow Brewing is also donating $1 from every beer purchased to The Discourse's journalism.

This event is free, but financial support for The Discourse's independent news service is encouraged and appreciated.

Space is limited so I encourage you to register! We hope to see you there.

🎵 Listen 🎤

Tuesday, June 3, 7 p.m.: A tribute to the legendary rock band, Queen, is at The Port Theatre. Tickets cost $74.50.

Wednesday, June 4, 7 p.m.: A tribute to Tina Turner is at The Port Theatre. Tickets cost $74.50.

Thursday June 5, 9 p.m.:  A mix of local indie rock, pop and trip hop folk with ShanaHan, One Man Army and Tick at The Vault Cafe. Tickets cost $10

Friday, June 6, 6:30 p.m.: Rock band Johnny Inappropriate plays The Queen’s. Tickets cost $15.

Friday, June 6, 7 p.m: Lushclot, Sundiver and Distain will play an all ages punk and metal show at The Globe Live Studio. Tickets cost $15 in advance, or $20 at the door.

Friday June 6, 9 p.m.: No wave, noise rock, power pop and skronk with Calgary's Dial Up along with locals Shearing Pinx and KMVP at The Vault Cafe. Tickets cost $15.

Saturday, June 7, 6:30 p.m.: Chilko in the Rosemary, Pond Scum, EARS and Dolly Desire will play alternative, experimental and raw music at The Globe Live Studio. Tickets cost $15 in advance, or $20 at the door.

Saturday, June 7, 6:30 p.m.: Michael Patrick’s Blues Explosion will play at The Queen’s. Tickets cost $20

Saturday, June 7, 8 p.m.: Bayonet Dismemberment, Yegg, Foreign Influence and Carl Longstaff will play at The Terminal. Tickets cost $20. 

Saturday, June 7, 10 p.m.: Dead Goon (Mr. Bungle) / Painful Reminder (SNFU) Tribute at The Queen’s. Tickets cost $20.

Sunday, June 8, 2 p.m.: Larch St. Blues Band will headline the weekly blues jam at The Queen’s. Tickets cost $10.

Sunday, June 8, 3:30 p.m.: The Nanaimo Fiddle Society presents Fiddelium at The Port Theatre. Tickets cost $37.

🎭 View 🖼️

Thursday, June 5, 6 p.m.: Enjoy a fun night of printmaking featuring a signature cocktail from Arbutus Distillery inspired by Big Rock Candy Mountain’s After Wrappers exhibition at The Nanaimo Art Gallery. Tickets cost $45. 

Friday, June 6, Noon: Take a lunchtime tour of the exhibit After Wrappers by artist-run flavour incubator Big Rock Candy Mountain at the Nanaimo Art Gallery. Tickets cost $5 or are free for members. 

Friday, June 6, 6 p.m.: Feel The Vibe with the year-end showcase from Vibe Dance Academy at The Port Theatre. Tickets cost $35. 

Saturday, June 7, 1 p.m. and 7 p.m.: Feel The Vibe with the year-end showcase from Vibe Dance Academy at The Port Theatre. Tickets cost $35. 

Saturday, June 7 to September 6: Dig into prehistoric B.C. and get up close and personal with “Buster,” the Iron Lizard of the Sustut River, and the other dinosaurs that once roamed the province’s highest peaks, densest forests and most remote river basins at the Dinosaurs of BC exhibit at the Nanaimo Museum.

⛹️ Meet 🎲

Friday, June 6, 6:35 p.m.: The Nanaimo Night Owls Play the Wenatchee AppleSox at Serauxmen Stadium. Win a trip to Tofino with YCD. Tickets cost $10-25.

Saturday, June 7, 10 a.m.: The Park Avenue School Spring Fun Fair will take place at Park Avenue Community School. Tickets are free. 

Saturday, June 7, 10 a.m.: SIN Regatta 2025 is a full-day sailing regatta hosted by the Nanaimo Yacht Club. The start and finish area will be near Angle Point on Newcastle Island.
Tickets are free.
 

Saturday, June 7, noon: Tiger Martial Arts will hold a free Karate Kid Workshop at its dojo for children aged 7-12 (must be accompanied by an adult). Register online. 

Saturday, June 7, 1 p.m.: Lions Free Swim at the Nanaimo Aquatic Centre.

Saturday, June 7, 6:35 p.m.: The Nanaimo Night Owls Play the Wenatchee AppleSox at Serauxmen Stadium. Tickets cost $10-25.

Saturday, June 7, 6 p.m.: Celebrate the 50th reunion of the NDSS class of 1975 at the Coast Bastion Hotel. Tickets Cost $75.

Saturday, June 7, 1 p.m.: Nanaimo United FC will play Altitude FC at Q'unq'inuqwstuxw Field. Women’s game at 1 p.m., men’s game at 3:30 p.m. Tickets cost $20 for adults or $10 for youth aged 7-18. Children 6 and under are free. 

Sunday, June 8, 10 a.m.: In celebration of World Oceans Day, Nanaimo Science will host Ocean Discovery Day: Science in the Park at Departure Bay Beach.

Sunday, June 8, 1 p.m.: The Nanaimo Night Owls Play the Wenatchee AppleSox at Serauxmen Stadium. Tickets cost $10-25.

Sunday, June 8, 5 p.m.: The Nanaimo Timberman play the Burnaby Lakers at Frank Crane Arena. Tickets cost $15 or $110 for a season pass.  

Tuesday, June 10, 6:35 p.m: The Nanaimo Night Owls Play the Victoria Harbourcats at Serauxmen Stadium. Tickets cost $10-25.

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